Police find malnourished boy in arrested mom's attic

DE SOTO – Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputies found a six year old boy in the attic of his mother’s house hours after her arrest on Aug. 17. At approximately 5 p.m. on Aug. 17, deputies went to the home, located in the 8200 block of Center Drive in De Soto, at the request of a relative to conduct a welfare check on a six year old child.

They checked the home and talked to his mother who claimed the boy was not in the home. They then arrested the mother, Rachel L. Perez, on an outstanding warrant.

At 11 p.m. that same night deputies responded to the residence, again at the request of a relative, and found a six year old boy who they described as very fragile and malnourished in the attic of the home.

Deputies also reported the boy was extremely thin, and his skeletal structure could easily be seen due to his level of malnourishment.

He was transported to the hospital by Med-Act.

The child is presently in Police Protective Custody and being treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Perez is currently being held at the New Century Adult Detention Center on unrelated charges. Further investigation is currently being conducted into this matter with charges expected to be filed.